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# Nuclear fuel rod vs fishing rod
- URL: https://atomicinsider.com/article/nuclear-fuel-rod-vs-fishing-rod/
- Published: 2026-10-19T09:47:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T13:05:08.000Z
- Author: Artjoms Krizanovsksis
- Tags: Nuclear 1:1, Issue 01

Nuclear fuel rods are long, sealed metal tubes containing uranium fuel pellets. In a typical pressurised water reactor (PWR), each rod is approximately 3.9 metres long and less than a centimetre wide. Hundreds of rods are grouped into fuel assemblies and loaded into the reactor core, where nuclear fission generates heat. Despite their length, fuel rods are remarkably slim, allowing heat to transfer efficiently to the surrounding coolant.

## Specification

|                      | **Typical PWR fuel rod**                                    |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Material             | Zirconium alloy cladding with uranium dioxide (UO₂) pellets |
| Length               | \~3.86 m                                                    |
| Diameter             | \~9.5 mm                                                    |
| Active fuel length   | \~3.66 m                                                    |
| Weight               | \~2.4 kg                                                    |
| Fuel pellets per rod | \~300–400                                                   |
| Used in              | Pressurised water reactors (PWRs)                           |